Container with impact indicator



March 20, 1962 E. F. KOELSCH ETAL 3,025,995

CONTAINER WITH IMPACT INDICATOR INVENTORS HUE'BNER 8 WORREL 5 Sheets-$heet 1 EMERYF. KOELSCh EARL W GRAVL/N Filed July 17, 1959 ATTORNEYS March 20, 1962 E. F. KOELSCH ETAL 3,025,995

CONTAINER WITH IMPACT INDICATOR s Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 17, 1959 58 W 77 i l! 75 I HIIM 1 76.9. ht 35 so EMERY E KOELSCH EARL W GRAVLIN INVE N TO/PS HUEBNER 8 WORREL A 77'0RNEKS March 20 1962 E. F. KOELSCH ETAL 3,025,995

CONTAINER WITH IMPACT INDICATOR Filed July 17, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 I 4 Q m Fla/15 EMERY E KOELSCH.

EARL w. GRAl L/N /NVEN7ORS HUEBNER & WORREL ATTORNEYS 3,025,995 CONTAINER WITH IMPACT INDIQATOR Emery F. Koelsch and Earl W. Gravlin, Fresno, Calif., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Royal Jet Division of Royal industries, Inc, Alhambra, Calif., 21 corporation of California Filed July 17, 1959.. Ser. No. 827,860 4 Claims. (Cl. 22tl-71) The present invention relates to a container and to a method of making the same and, more particularly, to a container which is resiliently compressible in a predetermined dimension and substantially rigid in other dimensions, which indicates the occurrence of impact against the container, and which is adapted to employ corners of various characteristics insertable during fabrication to meet predetermined requirements.

The dependable housing of delicate mechanisms for transportation and storage purposes has become a problem of increasing significance with the advent of guided missiles, sophisticated defense mechanisms, complex electronic systems, and the like. The problem is seriously aggravated when such mechanisms and systems are heavy and/ or subject to maladjustment-when jarred.

Containers conventionally provided for the purpose are usually fabricated from sheet metal and are made air-tight so as to exclude moisture, dust and other air-borne contaminants. Frequently they are provided with in-and-out breathing valves so as to accommodate environmental air pressure changes, as during air transport, and filters associated with the valves to minimize intrusion of such contaminants. Inasmuch as the containers are frequently handled and transported by air, they are made as light as practical commensurate with strength requirements and the maintenance of air-tight integrity.

The containers are usually of polygonal form, most frequently rectangular, and have corners. During handling, the corners are most prone to receive impacts by dropping of the containers or by their being struck. Unfortunately, when the containers are formed, the metal is drawn so thin at the corners that they are quite easily deformed or ruptured by impact.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide a container of the type to which reference has been made, whether formed of sheet metal or other sheet material, which provides corners and/or other protuberances prone to receive impacts which are adapted to resist or accommodate such impacts with a minimum of damage to the container and its contents.

A still further problem is the inability to determine in a reliable manner if and where a container has been struck, or otherwise been subjected to impact during transit. If the impact can be localized, the container and its contents can be carefully checked in the area involved and repairs and/ or adjustments made, if required.

With the foregoing in mind, it is another object of the present invention to provide an improved container and method of making the same.

Another object is to provide an economical, lightweight container of high strength.

Another object is to provide a container which is adapted to cushion shock.

Another object is to provide a container having increased longitudinal and transverse rigidity and vertical compressibility for cushioning purposes.

Another object is to minimize the possibility of fracture of a container incident to impact thereagainst, and particularly at corners thereof.

Another object is to enable selection of the characteristics, such as material, thickness, hardness, ductility, and the like, of the corners of a container separate and apart from the material of walls thereof.

3,925,995 Patented Mar. 20, 1952 Another object is to provide a container having deformable corners and/or other protuberances adapted to receive impact imparted to the container and by deformation to indicate such impact while shielding the contents of the container from total effect of the impact.

These, together with other objects, will become more fully apparent upon reference to the following description and accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container embodying the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a blank of sheet of material used in making the container of FIG. 1, somewhat reduced in scale from FIG. 1, and being shown in its initial stages of construction.

FIG. 3 is a somewhat enlarged perspective view of a corner of the container of FIG. 1 without the corner inserts in place.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 with the corner inserts in place.

FIG. 5 is a face view of a corner insert constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal section of a corner of a container employing the insert of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another type of insert for a corner of the container shown in FIG. 1..

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary horizontal section of a container corner utilizing the insert of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary vertical section of the corner shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 8 but showing still another form of corner insert adapted for use in place of the insert shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary horizontal section of a container corner utilizing another form of corner insert.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary vertical section of the corner and insert of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary horizontal section of a container corner utilizing a further form of insert.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary vertical section of the corner and insert of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a face view of a container wall and impact indicators connected to the wall.

FIG. 16 is a somewhat enlarged transverse section taken on line 16-16 of FIG. 15.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, a complete container 10 embodying the principles of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. The container is made from a pair of elongated, rectangular. flat sheets 11 of material having substantial rigidity although of limited flexibility. In commercial embodiments of the subject invention, this material is preferably sheet metal. One of these sheets is shown in flat condition in FIG. 2. Both of the sheets 11 are formed in the same manner in constructing the container and, therefore, only one sheet wIll be referred to hereinafter in describing the invention.

Accordingly, each sheet 11 has a longitudinally extended upper side edge 15, a longitudinal lower side edge 16, and opposite transversely extended end edges 17 and 18 interconnecting the longitudinal edges. For purposes of subsequent reference, the sheet has a predetermined inside surface 20 and an opposite outside surface 21.

A plurality of upper windows 26 are provided in the sheet 11 in longitudinally spaced relation along the upper longitudinal edge 15. Each window has an inner base edge 27 extended in parallel relation to the longitudinal edges, transversely outwardly extended parallel inner side edges 28, and divergently outwardly extended outer edges 29. The upper windows are all of the same size and shape, and it will be noted that the distance between the 0 two upper windows at the left of the sheet 11 in FIG. 2

is the same as the distance between the two windows at 3 the right of this sheet. Furthermore the distance between the endmost windows and their adjacent transverse edges 17 and 18 is equal to half the distance between the two innermost windows to bring the juncture of the edges 17 and 18 to a mid-point of an end of the container. Obviously other relationships can be utilized as desired.

The sheet 11 also is provided with a plurality of lower rectangular windows 35 individually adjacent and corresponding in number to the upper windows 26. The lower windows have longitudinal edges 35 parallel to the longitudinal edges 15 and 16 of the sheet and transverse edges 37 interconnecting the longitudinal edges and in alignment with the inner side edges 28 of their respectively adjacent upper windows. Further, it is to be noted that the base edge of each upper window is upwardly spaced from its respectively adjacent longitudinal edge 36 thereby providing a narrow strip 38 between each upper window and its respectively adjacent lower window. The lower windows are also of the same size and shape as each other. The windows are provided in the sheet by stamping, cutting, or in any other manner desired.

Upper, lower and intermediate bend lines 42, 43, 44 and 45 are preferably delineated on the sheet 11 and extend longitudinally of the entire length of the sheet in transversely spaced, substantially parallel relation to each other and to the longitudinal edges 15 and 16 of the sheet. The upper and lower bend lines are respectively coincident with the longitudinal edges 36 of the lower windows 35.

The sheet 11 is bent along the bend lines 42, 43, 44 and 45 to form an elongated, longitudinally extended channel, pleat or rib 50 in the sheet having a central web 51 between the intermediate bend lines and a pair of side webs 52 between each intermediate line and its adjacent upper and lower line and divergently extended away from the central web. With respect to the inside and outside surfaces 20 and 21 of the sheet, the channel protrudes outwardly of the sheet. In forming the channel, the sheet is thereby divided into an upper or outer portion 54 and a lower or inner portion 55 with the channel therebetween. Preferably simultaneously with forming the channel, this upper portion of the sheet is curved along a smooth arc inwardly from the upper bend line to the upper longitudinal edge 15 of the sheet. The upper portion thus extends in the opposite direction from the channel. It is to be noted that the lower windows 35 are located in the channel and that the upper windows 26 are located in the arcuate upper portion 54 of the sheet.

In describing the method of making the channel 50 and the upper portion 54, reference has been made to delineating bend lines 42, 43, 44 and 45 on the sheet 11. it is to be understood that these lines need not be physically impressed on the sheet prior to the channel forming operation. For example, the channel and arcuate upper portion are readily formed in a stamping machine employing a die or mandrel, not shown. However, regardless of the manner in which the channel is formed, some preliminary calculation is made as to the location of the channel in the sheet and for this reason reference is made to delineation of the bend lines.

The next step in constructing the container is to bend the sheet 11 into rectangular container shape thereby to provide a pair of spaced parallel side walls 56, a pair of spaced parallel end walls 57, and four corners 58 smoothly joining adjacent side and end walls. While a rectangular shape is illustrated and described, the invention is applicable to any polygonal shape. The sheet is bent transversely of the channel 50 and on bend lines extended transversely of the sheet generally medially through the upper and lower windows 26 and 35. In this manner, the windows are located in the corners of the container. In bending or folding the sheet in this manner, adjacent divergent side edges 29 of the upper windows are brought into contact with each other at the corners and precisely in diagonal planes containing said medial bend lines. This brings the upper ends of adjacent side edges 28 into contact to form apices of generally spherically triangular upper windows 26 in the container. All of the upper and lower windows constitute passages between the outside and the inside of the container. It is of course apparent that the sheet is bent so that the channel 50 protrudes outwardly of the container and so that the opposite transverse end edges 17 and 18 are brought into contact with each other whereupon they are joined as by welding. Thus, the channel extends in circumscribing relation to the container and is continuous except for the windows.

With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, in particular, a spherically triangular, concavo-convex, upper corner insert 65 is illustrated having a pair of side edges 66, a base edge 67, side flanges 68 outwardly extended in offset relation from the side edges, and a base flange 69 outwardly extended in offset relation from the base edge. A plurality of such inserts are individually fitted in the upper spherically triangular windows 26' with the side and base flanges 68 and 69 marginally overlapping the inside surface 20 of the sheet 11 and circumscribing the upper windows. These inserts cover and protrude outwardly from the windows, have outer convex surfaces, and are welded, or otherwise secured, in such positions.

A channel-shaped, concavo-conv'ex, lower corner in sert is best illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, and includes an arcuate central web 76 upwardly and downwardly divergently extended side webs 77, end flanges 78 endwardly extended in offset relation from the certtral and side Webs, and upper and lower flanges 79 and 80 extended upwardly and downwardly from the side webs and end flanges. The lower corner inserts are individually fitted into the lower windows 35 with the per and lower flanges marginally overlapping the inside surface 20 of the sheet against the strips 38 and the lower portion 55 of the sheet 11. Also, the end flanges 78 of the lower inserts marginally overlap the inside surface of the sheet against the central and side webs 5i and 52 of the channel 50. These lower inserts are liliewise secured, as by welding, in the described positions. The central and side webs of the inserts are continuous with the central and side webs of the channel at the corners 58 of the container where the channel is interrupted by the lower windows. These lower inserts also protrude outwardly of the container, have outer convex surfaces, and completely cover the lower windows, as will be evident.

At this point it is to be noted that the inserts 65 and 75 preferably have certain characteristics which strength en and rigidify the corners 58 of the container 10. For example, the inserts may be of greater thickness than the sheet 11. They may be cast parts which thereby avoid the problem of drawing of the metal incident to bending. They may be of different and harder material than the material of the sheet 11. As contrasted with simple bending the sheet 11 to form a corner, and thereby thinning the metal at the corner, the utilization of the inserts is a vast improvement in strengthening and reinforcing the corners of the container.

The next step in the subject method includes the placement of a flat top wall within the folded sheet 11 so that such top wall, marginally overlaps the rectangularly formed upper longitudinal edge 15. This top wall is then secured, as by welding, to the sheet thereby to close the upper opening in the sheet circumscribed by the upper longitudinal edge.

While the foregoing description has concentrated on forming one of the sheets 11 into a proper condition for the container 10, it is to be understood that the other sheet 11 is similarly formed. The two sheets are then assembled with their lower longitudinal edges 16 in abutmerit. Suitable latches 8S and handles 89 are connected to the side walls 56 so that the sheets are releasably interconnected in assembled relation. Reference throughout to upper, lower, top, bottom, and the like, is only for descriptive convenience and obviously is not intended to limit the attitude of the container.

In use, the subject container is rigid in its longitudinal and transverse dimensions because of the circumscribing channels 50. These channels resist bending or buckling of the side and end walls 56 and 57 incident to the application of force transversely inwardly against the side and end walls. Further, the channels, in protruding outwardly from the container, function as bumpers to protect the upper and lower portions 54 and 55 against contact with the ground, or other obstruction.

If the container 10 is dropped on one of the walls, or is subjected to shock imposed downwardly or upwardly thereon, the container resiliently cushions the shock. This occurs because the channels 50 impart a measure of resilient compressibility to the sheets 11 against forces imposed in the planes of the side and end walls 56 and 57 and transversely of the channels. That is, when such forces are imposed, the side webs 52 and 77 of the channels and inserts 75, respectively, move toward each other and resiliently return to their relaxed divergent positions upon removal of such impact forces.

Further, if the container 10 is subjected to impact at the corners 58 thereof, the reinforcing inserts 65 and 75 are particularly suited for withstanding such impact. As above explained, these inserts are of such selected hardness, thickness, material, and the like, as to receive blows without appreciable deformation. If dented, or the like, they can easily be replaced.

Second Form The second form of the subject invention relates to an alternative construction for the lower corner inserts 75. In FIG. 10, a corner 100 of a container is illustrated and serves to join a pair of side walls 101 of the container. The side walls are channeled or pleated, as before, and provide a window 102 in the corner. Actual- 1y, this is the same construction as the container 10, described above.

A channel-shaped insert 106 provides a channel-shaped back portion 107 adapted'marginally to overlap the side walls 101 of the container and a face portion 108 secured, as by welding, to the back portion, and precisely fitting in the window 102. As contrasted with the insert 75, the insert 106 is laminated while the insert 75 has offset flanges 78, 79, and 80 to provide the raised webs 76 and 77. In use of the insert 106, the face portion is continuous with the webs S1 and 52 of the channel and thus serves the same purpose as the webs 76 and 77. In other respects, these inserts are the same insofar as providing the desired strengthening characteristics for the corner 100.

Third Form As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a corner 115 of a container joins a pair of side walls 116 thereof and has a window 117 therein. A hollow, impact-indicating insert 120, embodying the principles of the third form of the invention, includes an outer channel-shaped portion 121, upper and lower flanges 122 and 123, and opposite end flanges 124. This insert differs, among other features, in providing a substantially rectangular reinforcing plate 126 extended diagonally of the channel-shaped portion and having oblique end flanges 127 mating with and secured to the end flanges 124.

The channel-shaped portion 121 of the insert 120 is of deformable material and its reinforcing plate 126 is of high strength, rigid material. Thus, the channelshaped portion easily deforms when subjected to impact and indicates that impact has occurred. The reinforcing plate, however, is sufliciently hard and rigid to withstand such impact without fracturing, or deforming or weakening appreciably.

6 Fourth Form The fourth form of the subject invention, illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14, is very similar to the third form in providing an impact-indicating insert 135 having a channel-shaped arcuate portion 136, and a reinforcing plate 137. However, in this form, a filling 138 of resiliently compressible material, such as polyurethane foam, is placed within the cavity defined between the channel portion and the reinforcing plate. While this filling is resiliently compressible, it is also characterized by a measure of rigidity so that it has the effect of resiliently returning the sheet metal channel portion substantially into its original form subsequent to deformation. If a material such as polyurethane is employed, the channelshaped portion is preferably provided with minute orifices through which the described material is injected as a foam and allowed to harden.

While deform-able indicating inserts and have been described in connection with filling the channel windows, as 35, it is to be understood that similar type inserts could be provided for covering the upper windows 26 in the upper arcuate portion 54. Likewise, these inserts may be provided with reinforcing plates and fillings, if of the type shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. Furthermore, if the deformable, indicating type insert is employed in both upper and lower windows, as 26 and 35 of FIG. 3, then a single reinforcing plate, as 126 or 137, can be employed which pl-ate extends diagonally of the corner behind both of such windows and deformable inserts therefor.

Fifth Form With reference to FIGS. 15 and 16, a side wall for a container is illustrated. A plurality of impact indicators 151 protrude outwardly from this side wall. Each indicator includes a generally frusto-conical shell 152 having an annular flange 153 flush against and secured, as by welding, to the side wall. In this manner, the shell and side wall define a cavity 154 within each indicator. These cavities may be provided with fillings 156, such as the filling 135 described above in connection with the fourth form of the subject invention. Preferably these indicators are spaced about the side wall adjacent to the corners thereof.

In use of the fifth form of the invention, one or more side walls of .a container, as 10, are provided with one or more of the indicators 151. If such container is subjected to impact against a side wall provided with an indicator, the indicators take the impact and are deformed as a result thereof. Once again, when the container and its contents reach their destination it is easy to observe what part of the container was subjected to impact forces tending to impose shock on the contents.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred methods and embodiments, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent methods, devices, and embodiments.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A container comprising interconnected walls of sheet material defining a plurality of exterior sides of the container, a plurality of separate protuberances disposed at a plurality of preselected locations on the exterior of each of a plurality of the sides of the container, said protuberances being fixed to the sheet material and extending outwardly from the sheet material as portions of the exterior sides of the container, and each of said protuberances being made of material which is locally deformable for absorption of impact loads and which is permanently deformable locally under impact loads insufiicient to permanently deform the sheet material at locations spaced from the protuberances so that imposition of impact loads on the protuberances which are insufiicient to permanently deform the sheet material are sufiicient to permanently deform the protuberances to absorb impacts and to signal to visual observation of the exterior of the container that the container has been subjected to such impact loads.

2. A container comprising interconnected walls of sheet material defining a. plurality of exterior sides of the container, a plurality of separate protuberances disposed at a plurality of preselected locations spaced from each other on the exterior of each of a plurality of the sides of the container, said protuberances being fixed to the sheet material and extending outwardly substantially normally from the sheet material, said protuberances being defined by walls of yieldable material which also define a chamber between each protuberance and the sheet material, each chamber being filled with compressible material substantially filling the chamber and providing cushioned support between the sheet material and the wall of the protuberance, and each of said protuberances being permanently deformable under impact loads insufi'lcient to permanently deform the sheet material so that imposition of impact loads on the protubenances which are insufiicient to permanently deform the sheet material are sufficient to permanently deform the protuberances to signal to visual observation of the exterior of the container that the container has been subjected to such impact loads.

3. A container comprising interconnected walls of sheet material defining a plurality of exterior sides of the container, said walls also defining a plurality of apertures in the sheet material located at a plurality of preselected locations spaced from each other on each of a plurality of the walls, a protuberance disposed in each aperture in the walls of the container, each protuberance being fixed to the sheet material and extending outwardly from the sheet material on the exterior of the container, each protuberance being defined by Walls of yieldable material which engage the edges of the aperture in which the protuberance is located, a back-plate on each protuberance extending between the walls of the protuberance and defining a chamlber within the protuberance, the walls defining each protuberance being permanently deformable under impact loads insufficient to permanently deform the sheet material so that imposition of impact loads on the protuberances which are insufiicient to permanently deform the sheet material are suflicient to permanently deform the walls defining the protuberances to signal to visual observation of the exterior of the container that the container has been subjected to such impact loads.

4. A container comprising interconnected walls of sheet material defining a plurality of exterior sides of the c0ntainer, said walls also defining a plurality of apertures in the sheet material located at a plurality of preselected loctions spaced from each other on each of a plurality of the walls, a protuberance disposed in each aperture in the walls of the container, each protuberance being fixed to the sheet material and extending outwardly from the sheet material on the exterior of the container, each protuberance being defined by walls of yieldable material which engage the edges of the aperture in which the protuberance is located, a back-plate on each protuberance extending between the walls of the protuberance and defining a chamber within the protuberance, compressible material substantially filling the chamber within each protuberance and providing cushioned support for the walls defining the protuberance, the walls defining each protuberance being permanently deformable under impact loads insufficient to permanently deform the sheet material so that imposition of impact loads on the protuberances which are insuificient to permanently deform the sheet material are sufficient to permanently deform the walls defining the protuberances to signal to visual observation of the exterior of the container that the container has been subjected to such impact loads.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,576,319 Fagley Mar. 9, 1926 1,807,912 Hansson June 2, 1931 2,115,165 Hathorn et a1. Apr. 26, 1938 2,155,871 Pikcr Apr. 25, 1939 2,194,722 Roberts Mar. 26, 1940 2,301,467 Voight Nov. 10, 1942 2,656,064 Bues Oct, 20, 1953 2,695,728 Wahl Nov. 30', 1954 2,717,094 Moore Sept. 6, 1955 2,874,865 Canty et a1 Feb. 24, 1959 

